New breast cancer research funding for Cambridge

Press release 26 November 2009 Media Contact: Claire Learner, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, 020 7749 3705 email: clearner@breastcancercampaign.org New breast cancer research funding for Cambridge Individualised treatment for each breast cancer patient could soon become a reality, according to Breast Cancer Campaign. Cambridge scientist, Dr Paul Pharaoh, has been awarded a three year project grant by Breast Cancer Campaign, to study how our genes can play a role in the effectiveness of breast cancer treatments. The grant, worth almost £80,000 is part of £2 million awarded to 20 projects in the UK and Ireland. Dr Pharoah and his colleagues around the world have identified a number of genes that may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, using data collected from around 4,500 women. Now the team at the University of Cambridge will study the medical records of this group of women to obtain further details of how their breast cancer developed over time and the treatments they received. They will then be matched with their DNA samples to find out which genes are involved in breast cancer development and how they affect response to treatment. Dr Pharoah said, “We are grateful for this funding from Breast Cancer Campaign and to the thousands of women who took part in the study. Without this comprehensive information we would not be able to carry out this further important research which we hope will lead to new ways to tailor treatments to the individual.” Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “Researchers are beginning to understand that a person’s genetic information can influence how they respond to breast cancer treatments. Dr Pharaoh’s research is a step forward in making individualised treatment for each breast cancer patient a reality.” Ends Notes to editors Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure Currently it supports 115 research projects, worth almost £16 million, in 44 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women In the UK, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/